Manhunt begins in rural Rolla

A 24-year-old rural Rolla man who ran from police Wednesday after wrecking his car is still at large.

KC Kotyk

A 24-year-old rural Rolla man who ran from police Wednesday after wrecking his car is still at large.

Officers from three law-enforcement agencies initiated a manhunt that lasted several hours in a densely-wooded area just south of Rolla.

According to a reports, David Cole Nash sped from a Rolla Police officer who attempted to pull him over and, subsequently, crashed into a tree and fence at the intersection of County roads 5080 and 5010. Bailing out of his car, Nash then ran into a large, dense forest near the intersection.

Officers from the Rolla Police Department, the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop I searched the woods for several hours before positioning lookouts on all the roads surrounding the forest. A reconnaissance plane dispatched by the Missouri State Highway Patrol circled overhead as officers combed the wooded area.

Nash was not found after several hours of searching.

The hunt for Nash began when a Rolla Police officer, while en route to question a woman claiming Nash threatened to assault her, spotted Nash driving in the area and attempted to stop him for questioning.

Rolla Police Lt. Jim Macormic said the department will seek a warrant for Nash’s arrest on multiple charges, including domestic assault in the second-degree, leaving the scene of an accident, careless and imprudent driving, and resisting arrest by flight.